Expansion mechanism

Abstract

The techniques described herein relate to an expansion mechanism for an article of luggage. The article of luggage may include a rear housing portion defining a rear storage area that can be increased when the expansion mechanism is in an expanded state. A gusset may couple portions of the rear housing portion together and can be slack or taut. A first and second piece of the expansion mechanism may be mounted to the portions of the rear housing portion, respectively. When the pieces of the expansion mechanism separate in an expanded state, the gusset may also expand to a taut state. The rear storage area can be increased when the expansion mechanism is in an expanded state. The expansion mechanism may freely slide from a closed state to an open or expanded state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of luggage, comprising:
 a rear shell housing portion defining a rear storage area and comprising a first portion and a second portion;   a gusset coupling the first portion and the second portion;   a front housing portion connected to the rear shell housing portion; and   an expansion mechanism, the expansion mechanism comprising:
 a first piece mounted to the first portion, the first piece comprising a top surface; and 
 a second piece mounted to the second portion, the second piece configured to engage the first piece and comprising a bottom surface, wherein:
 the top surface and the bottom surface are smooth, and 
 in an expanded state, in which the first portion and the second portion are separated from each other while coupled by the gusset and the size of the rear storage area is increased, the first piece is configured to have the top surface contact the bottom surface such that the expansion mechanism provides support to the first portion and the second portion. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the second piece is configured to receive the first piece. 
     
     
         3 . The article of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the second piece is configured to engage the first piece in a direction parallel to the top surface and the bottom surface. 
     
     
         4 . The article of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the first piece is mounted to the first portion via first fasteners and the second piece is mounted to the second portion via second fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The article of luggage of  claim 1 , further comprising a zipper subsystem, wherein in an expanded state, the zipper subsystem is unzipped, and in a closed state, the zipper subsystem is zipped. 
     
     
         6 . The article of luggage of  claim 5 , wherein the gusset is disposed on an interior side of the zipper subsystem. 
     
     
         7 . The article of luggage of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of wheels mounted to the rear shell housing portion. 
     
     
         8 . The article of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the first piece is configured to remain in the expanded state when the gusset is taut. 
     
     
         9 . The article of luggage of  claim 8 , wherein the first piece is configured to slide into an opening defined at least in part by the second piece when the gusset has slack. 
     
     
         10 . The article of luggage of  claim 2 , wherein the second piece comprises a first side with a top surface of the second piece protruding therefrom and a second protruding surface protruding therefrom, and wherein when the second piece receives the first piece, a side of the first piece is surrounded by the first side, the top surface of the second piece, and the second protruding surface. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a luggage system, wherein the luggage system comprises an expansion mechanism and a rear shell housing portion defining a rear storage area and comprising a first portion and a second portion, the method comprising:
 unzipping a zipper disposed on an outer perimeter of the rear shell housing portion between the first portion and the second portion; and   pulling apart the first portion and the second portion such that a gusset coupling the first portion and the second portion expands at least in part and a first smooth surface of a first piece and a second smooth surface of a second piece of the expansion mechanism slide relative to each other while in contact.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the contact between the first surface and the second surface is partial contact. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first smooth surface and the second smooth surface are substantially smooth. 
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing an article of luggage, comprising:
 manufacturing a rear shell housing portion defining a rear storage area and comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a gusset coupling the first portion and the second portion;   manufacturing a front housing portion connected to the rear shell housing portion; and   mounting an expansion mechanism, comprising:
 mounting a first piece of the expansion mechanism to the first portion, the first piece comprising a top surface; and 
 mounting a second piece of the expansion mechanism to the second portion, the second piece configured to engage the first piece and comprising a bottom surface, wherein:
 the top surface and the bottom surface are smooth, and 
 in an expanded state, in which the first portion and the second portion are separated from each other while coupled by the gusset and the size of the rear storage area is increased, the first piece is configured to have the top surface contact the bottom surface such that the expansion mechanism provides support to the first portion and the second portion.